"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace." - Milan Kundera (b. 1929) Czech author

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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Warrior Poodles-Who Would Have Thought, Canine History with The Urban Hound. Also Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop

The urban hounds love a good natured battle, after all nothing beats wrestling with your friends. The snow in particular seems to bring out Norbert and Bob's warrior sides (don't worry they were just playing, even during the last pic, which admittedly looks pretty scary):

Maybe its just to hot too wrestle in the summer time. Anyway today marks a big day in battle doggie history. When we see the poodle:

Most of us think of glamour, hair cuts, dog shows, and companionship. Those who are more educated about how intelligent, athletic, and active these dogs are think of rally-0, agility, hunting, and therapy dog work:

Today, July 2, marks the anniversary of the Battle of Marston Moore. This battle was fought during the first English civil war in 1644. During the battle Boye, a hunting poodle, owned by Prince Rupert of the Rhine lost his life.During his life Boye was a very famous, and very feared, canine. He accompanied Rupert into battles and there was a great deal of negative propaganda about Boye put out by the Parliamentarians, the group that opposed Prince Rupert and the other Royalists. Among the rumors circulated about Boye where charges that he was a witches familiar, could turn invisible and thus spy on the Prince's enemies, was a shape shifter, and even that he was the Devil himself. The Royalists however loved Boye and adopted him as their official mascot even giving him the honorary rank of Sergeant-Major-General.

Sadly during the Battle of Marston Moore Boye escaped the Royalist camp and chased after Prince Rupert into battle. The battle went badly for the Royalists and Boye was one of many soldiers who lost their lives.

By all accounts Prince Rupert was devastated by the death of his dog. Perhaps Boye was a magic charm for the Royalists because after his death they were defeated by Parliament and from 1649-1660 England was a republic. Prince Rupert survived the war andwas employed by the King of France to fight the Spanish during the thirty years war.After the death of Parliamentary leader Oliver Cromwellin 1658 England fell into disarray. Prince Rupert returned to England to fight for King Charles II. This time, even without the help of a magic poodle, the Royalists where successful and the monarchy was restored in 1660. Prince Rupert died of natural causes in 1682at the age of 63.

Now that you've had your history lesson take a look at all the wonderful pet blogs in this addition of the Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop.

Please read through the updated rules before you enter your link. Thank you in advance for your understanding. To those of you I haven’t emailed back I am sorry. I will do my best to go through my emails and get to all of you this weekend.

Its another edition of Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop brought to you by Two Little Cavaliers, Life with Dogs, and Confessions of the Plume! Welcome to all of you joining us for the first time we are so excited to have you and welcome back to our regular Hoppers.

Here’s how you can join the Pet Bloggers Blog Hop celebration:

* Link up your blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add you link once to be seen on all the Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week.

** Grab the Pet Bloggers Blog Hop button that our friends over on Life with Dogs made for us and include it in your Saturday Pet Bloggers Hop post so that your readers will know what is going on.

*** Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool and comment on their blogs to say hello!

**** Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like

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Please be considerate and do not link directly to a giveaway post. Doing so does not allow others to comment on the post and forces them to look around your blog to find an appropriate place to post. One link per blog please!

Poor Boye; although he died defending his master and was most likely a Poodle "of his times," Prince Rupert learned the hard way that the best way to enjoy your canine companion is with a good game of fetch!